As you approach the Wine Country from the south, you must first pass through the Carneros District, a cool, windswept region that borders San Pablo Bay and marks the entrance to both Napa and Sonoma valleys. Until the latter part of the 20th century, this mixture of marsh, sloughs, and rolling hills was mainly used as sheep pasture. (Carnero means “sheep” in Spanish.)

After experimental plantings yielded slow-growing yet high-quality grapes -- particularly chardonnay and pinot noir -- several Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley wineries expanded their plantings here, eventually establishing the Carneros District as an American viticultural appellation. Although about a dozen wineries spread throughout the region, there are no major towns or attractions -- just gorgeous scenery as you cruise along Highway 121, the major junction between Napa and Sonoma.